Lobby group urges hospital advisory board consultation

A community group lobbying to have Mildura's privately-run base hospital returned to public hands has cautiously welcomed news of a new advisory committee.

The hospital is the only privately-operated public hospital in Victoria but Ramsay Healthcare's contract is about to expire.

Mildura Mayor John Arnold says that during a meeting last Friday, Health Minister David Davis confirmed plans for the community advisory board.

The Reclaim the Base group's Jill Joslyn says community consultation has to be the main priority.

"I would really like to see the newly-appointed advisory board to MBH [Mildura Base Hospital] to have mandated in their charter to consult with community ... there's been several advisory boards since 2000 but none of them have really consulted the community and the community's health is at stake," she said.